Combination vacuum cleaner and hassock



July 4, 1967 P. E. AMOS 3,328,826

COMBINATION VACUUM CLEANER AND HASSOCK Filed June 25, 1965 s Sheets-Shet1 INVENTOR PAUL E. AMOS BY nu/w? ATTORNEYJ July 4, 1967 P, mos

COMBINATION VACUUM CLEANER AND HASSOCK 5 Sheets Filed June I 25, 1965-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PAUL E. AMOS ATTORNEXS July 4, 1967 AMOS COMBINATIONVACUUM CLEANER AND HASSOCK 3 Sheets-$heet Filed June 25, 1965 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR PAUL E. AMOS United States Patent 3,328,826 COMBINATION VACUUMCLEANER AND HASSOCK Paul E. Amos, 1132 Pennsylvania Ave., McKeesport,Pa. 15131 Filed June 25, 1965, Ser. No. 466,943 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-323)The present invention is a combination vacuum cleaner and hassock inwhich the'hassock is the housing of the vacuum cleaner.

Objects of the invention are to include in the combination, all of theoperating parts of the vacuum cleaner, such as motor, filter, dust 'bag,etc., in addition to providing space for the storage of the vacuum hoseand other appurtenances when the cleaner is not in use; to providefurther in this combination, a useful article of furniture, such as ahassock, of suitable size and contour; to provide still further in thiscombination, a vacuum cleaner, the parts of which are completelyconcealed, when the cleaner is not in use, but readily accessible andexpeditiously connected for engagement with a source of power to suckthe dirt through the vacuum hose and deposit it directly into adisposable dust bag; to additionally provide a vacuum cleaner hose whichis equipped with a vibration and sound dampener at the juncture of thevacuum hose with the vacuum brush; to provide a carrying handle or strapsecured to a fixed part of the vacuum cleaner Within the confines of thebottom part of the hassock, in which the vacuum cleaner is mounted; andto provide ahassock, the bottom cleaner-carrying part of which isprovided with runners for facilitating transportation thereof up aflight of stairs in sled-like fashion.

Other objects of the invention are to provide the combination alreadyreferred to, wherein the hassock, exteriorly resembles a conventionalhassock comprising a top and bottom which are slidably engageable, thebottom part having mounted therein, a complete vacuum cleaner entitywith the exception of the suction hose and brushes, said bottom partbeing partitioned to provide two communicating compartments, in one ofwhich is mounted an electric motor and in the other, a dust bag intowhich the hose of the cleaner empties; to additionally provide an aircurrent which passes through a filtering unit, mounted over a secondopening in the partition between the compartments, before being forcedacross the electric motor, for ultimate venting through the top of themotor compartment; to provide a retaining assembly for the motor, whichmay be removed, without the use of tools, when it is desired to removethe motor; to provide in the hassock top a storage space to accommodatethe brushes and other appurtenances, the top being turned upside down topermit insertion of the brushes and appurtenances to be stored when notin use, in said storage space, the latter being closed by a cover plateequipped with an access door which is closed, when the hassock is usedas an article of furniture; and to provide a combined hassock and vacuumcleaner which is compact and of a weight which permits it to beconveniently carried from room to room when the vacuum cleaner is inuse.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the followingdescription of the present preferred form of the invention, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention when used as a hassock;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention showing the top elevatedfrom the bottom to disclose the inside of the top of the hassock inwhich appurtenances of the vacuum cleaner are stored when the vacuumcleaner is not in use, the bottom of the hassock as illustrated, shows 3,3Z8,8Z6 Patented July 4, 1967 the runners on the bottom part of thehassock employed in ascending stairs when the invention is used as avacuum cleaner;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the hassock top in invertedposition showing the access door in the hassock top and the vacuumcleaner appurtenances between the access door and the top of the hassockas illustrated in vertical section in FIG. 8;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom part of the hassock showing thevacuum suction hose stored therein, together with the electric cableadapted for engagement with an electrical outlet;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottom part of the hassock with the outletend of the vacuum hose mounted therein and showing the electric cableextending from one end of the bottom part for engagement with anelectrical outlet;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5,looking in the direction of the arrows, showing to advantage theelectric motor which powers the vacuum cleaner mounted in onecompartment of the bottom, the other compartment carrying a dust baginto which the vacuum hose empties, together with the filter assemblymounted in the partition between the compartments;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6,looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the electric motor intop plan and the dust bag in horizontal section;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the lines 8-8 of FIG. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing the vacuum hose and brush storedin the top of the hassock when the vacuum cleaner is not in use;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the outlet end ofthe vacuum hose and illustrating the manner of mounting the noise andvibration dampener unit attached to the hose in close proximity to oneof the cleaning brushes of the vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lines 10-10 of FIG. 9,looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lines 1111 of FIG. 9,looking in the direction of the arrows.

The combination vacuum cleaner and hassock of this invention isadvantageously illustrated, when used as a hassock, in FIG. 1. Thehassock is composed of two interfitting boxlike parts, the top 20 andthe bottom 21, which are slidably engageable in a manner which will beobvious from a consideration of FIG. 2. The bottom 21 is equipped with aflange 22 along the upper edge thereof, to limit the downward slidingmovement of the top 20 on the bottom 21. The bottom 21 carries a pair ofrunners 23 which are adapted to provide facile movement of the vacuumcleaner over a floor area or up a flight of stairs, by pulling one endof the vacuum hose, the runners 23 being of a length to span thedistance between successive .steps of the stairs so that the cleaner maybe pulled up the stairs in a single pass of the vacuum cleaner from thebottom of the stairs to the top.

The bottom 21 carries the essential parts of the vacuum. cleanerincluding a motor 24 and an electrical cable 25, one end 26 of which isadapted to be plugged into an electrical outlet in a conventionalmanner. The bottom 21 is divided into two compartments by a partition27, which is provided with an opening 28 to allow air passage in amanner hereinafter described. The opening 28 is covered by a screen 29.The inner end of the motor 24 engages the partition 27 and is heldagainst the partition by a motor-retaining assembly, generallydesignated 30. As advantangeously illustrated in FIG. 7, the assembly 30comprises a clamping plate 31 which holds the motor against thepartition through the medium of clamping olts 32 and 33 respectivelywhich are fixedly mounted in ny suitable manner to partition 27. Bolt 33is threadedly ngaged by a wing nut 34 which may be backed off by andwhen it is desired to remove pressure from the plate er-mitting it to bemoved as shown by the dotted lines 'n FIG. 7 so that access may begained to the motor for epair or replacement. A hex nut or the like 32'may be hre-adedly engaged with the free terminal of bolt 32.

As indicated above, bottom 21 of the hassock is divided nto twocompartments which are designated 35 and 36, he compartment 35 housingthe motor as illustrated in l IG. 6. The compartment 36 has mountedtherein, a filterng assembly generally designated 37 and including afilering cloth 38 which may be periodically removed and leaned, thecloth being held over the screened opening f partition 27 by aperforated clamping plate 39. The pper end of the plate is slidablymounted beneath a flanged part of the top of the compartment 35 to holdthe op edge of filtering cloth 38 in place as illustrated in I IG. 6,while the lower part of the plate is bent outwardly and upwardly toprovide a bar 40, readily engageable I the fingers to facilitateinsertion and removal of the plate.

Compartment 36 also carries a disposable dust bag 43 having an upperneck portion adapted for detachable engagement with the lower terminalof a tubular elbow 44 which passes through a stationary top wall 45 ofcompartment 36. An annulus 46 holds dust bag 43 in operative position.In order to secure elbow 44 in position and permit swivel movement ofthe latter, the elbow is provided near the bend thereof with a pair ofannuli 47 which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to thethickness of top wall 45. As shown in FIG. 6, annuli 47 engage the upperand lower faces of top wall 45 to permit free rotation of the elbow. Asetscrew 48 is located near the upper free terminal of the elbow forpurposes to be hereinafter more fully set out. Refuse sucked in throughelbow 44 is deposited in bag 43 and the air flowing therethrough passesthrough filtering assembly 37,- over and across motor 24, and through avent opening in a removable top wall 49 of compartment 35 normallycovered by a vent cap 50. Cap 50 includes a stationary tubular bodyportion 51 fixed in the vent opening in any suitable manner. The openingof body portion 51 is normally covered by a vertieally movable ventcover 52. Spaced legs 53 depend from cover 52, the lower terminals ofwhich are bent outwardly to provide flange or abutment fingers 54 whichare engageable with the lower terminal of tubular body portion 51 tolimit the upward movement of cover 52.

A stationary reinforced supporting strip 55 extends transversely of, andis secured to, bottom 21, to the upper face of which strip is secured acarrying strap 56 for transporting bottom 21 by hand from one place tothe other. As shown in FIG. 6, an opening is provided in the top ofcompartment 36 to permit access to filtering assembly 37 and dust bag43. The opening is normally covered by a removable cap or plate 57having depending flanges 58 extending int-o the opening for properpositioning of the cap. A knob 59 facilitates removal of the cap.

In order to permit ready removal of top wall 49 of compartment 35, alongitudinal edge of strip 55 is provided with a spaced flange member 60leaving a recess adapted to receive an edge of removable top 49. Theopposite edge of wall 49 is normally held in place by a retainer bar 61which is forced against the side wall of bottom 21. The upper edge ofbar 61 is slipped between a flange 61 fixed to the side wall thereof toexert downward pressure on top wall 49. Removal of cover 49 and vent cap50 is eifected by first removing retainer bar 61 in the mannerillustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 6. i

A vacuum hose is adapted for detachable engagement with elbow 44 of thecleaner and passes through a complement-al opening in an end wall ofcompartment 36 for use. As shown in FIG. 4, the hose includes a flexiblebody portion 62, one end of which is fitted with a rigid terminalportion 63, preferably of metal, having an annular peripheral recess 64intermediate its length. Terminal portion 63 is detachably held withinelbow 44 by engagement of setscrew 48 in annular recess 64. The oppositeterminal of flexible body portion 63 is also provided with a rigidterminal 65 which is engaged with a rigid wand 66. The

free terminal of wand 66 is in turn connected to a combination noise andvibration assembly 67.

As shown in FIG. 9, assembly 67 includes an outer tubular housing 68,the inner periphery of which is internally thickened and threaded at oneend, as indicated at 69, for engagement with external threads 70 of anelbow 71 of reduced diameter and of any suitable angle, the freeterminal of which elbow complements, and is adapted for slidableengagement in, the outlet opening of a vacuum brush 72. For carrying outthe objects of assembly 67, the terminal of housing 68, oppositethreaded terminal 69, is provided with an inwardly directed annularflange 73 in spaced relation'to which is an intermediate thickenedperipheral portion 74. Spaced internal elements formed by threadedportions 69 and 70, flange 73 and peripheral portion 74 form annulargrooves 0 channels along the inner periphery of housing 68 adapted toreceive dampening rings 75, 76 and 77, made of rubber or other suitablevibration and sound absorbent material, The inner periphery of rings 75,76, and 77 extend inwardly beyond housing peripheral portion 74, ring 75being in contiguous relationship with threaded portions 69 and 70, andring 77 being engaged with annular flange 73. A tubular member 78 isadapted for positioning coaxially within, and in spaced relation to,outer housing 68, the outer periphery of which terminal is in engagementwith the inner periphery of spaced rings 75, 76 and 77. An annularextension 79 of member 78 is located between rings 75 and 76 to preventcasual axial displacement of member 78 with respect to outer housing 68.By this arrangement of parts, rings 75, 76 and 77 dampen noise andvibration between the vacuum hose and brush and is of particular usewhere beater-type brushes are employed. The inner periphery of tubularmember 78 is provided with an an nular extension 78' which serves as anabutment or stop to limit inward movement of wand 66 which is insertedtherein.

Top 20 is provided with an accessory compartment 80, formed by a bottomwall 81 and side and end walls 82 which are preferably of plywoodconstruction. The compartment is closed by means of an upper wall 83spaced from the upper limit of side and end walls 82 as viewed in FIG.8, the upper wall preferably being of metallic grillework construction.Wall 83 is supported by peripheral angular members 84 located proximateside and end walls 82. Access to storage compartment is effected bymeans of a sliding door 85 covering an opening in wall 83, which door isoperable between guides 86. A knob 87 facilitates sliding movement ofthe door.

In spaced parallel relation to bottom wall 81 is a second plywood wall88, the walls being fixedly secured together by rivets or the like 89. Afoam cushion 90 is positioned on the outer face of wall 88 andupholstery material 91 is pulled tightly thereover and stapled to theunderface of wall 88. Buttons 92 are installed by piercing cushion 90,the shanks of which buttons extend through openings in wall 88 forfixing the buttons thereto. Welt 93 is also stapled to wall 88.Upholstery material 94 is applied to the side and end walls 82 by sewingthe same into a skirt which is stretched over the upper terminals ofside and end walls 82, the upper portion of the material being trainedbetween angular members 84 which serve as a retainer frame, and side andend walls 82. Securement of the material in place is then effected bymeans of rivets 95 or other suitable means. The lower end of theupholstery skirt is then pulled downwardly and held against theunderface of wall 81 by means 96. In manufacture, this latter step isefiected prior to securement of walls 81 and 88 together by means 89.

Bottom 21 is made in the same basic manner as top 20 and includes bottomwall 97 and side and end walls 98 preferably of plywood construction.Upholstery material 99 is applied to the side and end walls in similarfashion to that described above. It will also be noted from FIG. 6, thatfoam pads 100 are secured to the upper face of bottom wall 97 on whichfoam cushion is superimposed a grille work or the like 101. A panel 102,beneath bottom wall 97 conceals exterior rivets employed in upholsteringbottom 21.

By upholstering the combination vacuum cleaner and hassock in the mannerabove described, the present device is completely undistinguishable as acleaner when used as an article of furniture, and requires no tools forconverting the hassock for use as a cleaner.

When the vacuum cleaner is to be used, power is supplied by motor 24connected by an electric cable 25 having a plug end 26 which is insertedin an electric outlet. 103 designates an on-olf switch in circuit withthe motor for controlling operation thereof. The operation of the vacuumcleaner is substantially the same as the action of standard vacuumcleaners, the suction being created in the hose, and the elbow 71 ofassembly 67 being selectively engageable with several types of brushes72. After dirt is sucked through the hose, it empties into dust bag 43,which may be readily removed and replaced in a manner heretoforedescribed. When the vacuum cleaner is to be used on an upper floor,accessible by steps, the preferable manner of transporting the cleaneris to pull the vacuum hose with bottom 21 attached, so that runners 23engage and span successive steps and the cleaner moves upwardly insledlike fashion. In vacuuming the steps, the cleaner may be stopped atany position on the steps by resting the aft end thereof on a stepsurface in detent fashion.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it isnevertheless to be understood that various changes may be made therein,without departing from the spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

A combined vacuum cleaner and hassock comprising a bottom and top ofbox-like construction slidably connected together, said bottom includingtop, bottom and side walls, a partition extending centrally of thebottom, to divide the latter into two compartments, an opening in saidpartition to allow air passage from one compartment to another, afiltering unit extending across the partition opening, an elbowextending through, and swivelly mounted in, the top wall of one of saidcompartments, a dust bag removably attached to the lower terminal ofsaid elbow, a removable plate in the top wall of said bottom to permitaccess to said dust bag, a source of suction power mounted in the otherof said compartments, a retaining assembly for the source of suctionpower, the assembly including hand operable securing means for readyaccess to the suction power source, means for permitting removal of thatportion of said top wall above the source of suction power, a ventopening in said removable top wall, a vent cap normally covering ventopening, means for permitting limited movement of said vent cap topermit escape of air through the air opening upon actuation of saidsuction power source, a carrying strap extending transversely of saidbottom and engaged with the top wall thereof for permitting movement ofsaid bottom from place to place, a flexible hose, means for detachablyengaging one end of said hose to said elbow, a rigid wand engaged withthe free terminal of said hose, a vibration assembly engaged with thefree terminal of said wand, said vibration assembly including an outertubular housing, a tubular member positioned within and in spacedrelation to said outer housing, vibra. tion and sound-absorbent meansinterposed between said tubular member and said outer tubular housing,spaced resilient rings interposed between said tubular member and saidouter tubular housing, a vacuum brush, means for engaging said vacuumbrush with a terminal of said wand, r-unners fixed to the underface ofsaid bottom, to effect slide-like movement thereof, by pulling on thefree end of the flexible hose, the top of the vacuum cleaner and hassockincluding a box-like unit including bottom, top and side walls formingan accessory compartment, dr-or means in sa-id top wall for permittingentry to said accessory compartment, and upholstery material fixed tosaid bottom and top for giving the same the appearance of an article offurniture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,678 3/1911 Bordo. 2,030,1332/1936 Baxter 55-357 2,177,588 10/ 1939 Genell. 2,203,088 6/ 1940Hansson. 2,260,237 10/ 1941 Stahl 55-276 2,381,426 8/1945 Allen et al.2,400,558 5/ 1946 Lindberg 55-4'72 X 2,544,405 3/ 1951 Weir 15-323 X2,699,838 1/ 1955 Holm-Hansen 55-472 X 2,776,726 1/ 1957 Brace 55-373 X2,865,465 12/ 1958 Lachowicz. 2,929,462 3/1960 Nowak 15-326 X 3,002,21510/ 1961 MacFarland. 3,232,030 2/ 1966 Owenmark 55-470 X FOREIGN PATENTS341,743 1/ 1931 Great Britain. 468,720 7/ 1937 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

D. TALBERT, Assistant Examiner.

